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Government considering doubling payout to monti hawkers

January 31, 2016, 6:48 am
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The government is considering doubling the payout to monti hawkers to reduce the number of stalls, enabling it to return to its original plans to relocate the market to Valletta’s Ordnance Street, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt. The offer being considered is in the region of €40,000, up from the €23,000 offer made in November last year to entice them to give up their licence. Sources said this was just one of the options being considered by the government to resolve the impasse over the stalls’ relocation. An Economy Minister spokesman would not confirm nor deny that it was one of the options being considered. But lawyer Claire Bonello, representing the monti hawkers, said although she had heard such information through the grapevine, the authorities had not made an official offer. “I am reliably informed this is being considered but the offer has not yet been made,” Dr Bonello said when contacted. Asked whether they would be prepared to accept such an offer, Dr Bonello said hawkers were not after money but simply wanted to be allowed to work. “It seems the government is intent on reneging on its contractual obligations and preferring to cull the number of hawkers, in...
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Battle of Malta tunnels open to public this afternoon

January 31, 2016, 4:54 am
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People can this afternoon visit the complex of tunnels where the Battle of Malta was plotted and coordinated during the Second World War. The underground tunnels of the War Headquarters, which are beneath the Upper Barrakka, are not usually open to the public, as Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna is still restoring them in a bid to open the doors this summer. The restoration work of the 28,000 square metre complex kicked off in 2009 and has so far cost €1.7 million, but more work needs to be done. People can visit the complex and the Saluting Battery until 5pm for €5.
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PL to change structures to allow MPs to contest deputy leadership for party affairs

January 31, 2016, 2:47 am
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The Labour Party shall be meeting next Friday to modernise its structure and allow MPs to contest for the post of deputy leader for party affairs, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this morning. Speaking in Lija, Dr Muscat spoke Toni Abela’s nomination for the Court of Auditors saying he was “a man of integrity” who, he said, would make Malta proud. The nomination, he said, would open another chapter in the manner the party operated. “We need all hands on deck in the second part this legislature, but at the same time we have to modernise our party structures,” he said. An extraordinary general conference is being held on Friday to make the necessary changes, he said. Earlier, Dr Muscat said that the Labour Government would strive to remain the agent of change. “We cannot rest on our laurels,” he said. He said that the Labour administration has reversed the negative trend in unemployment with the lowest drop in 25 years, eased the taxation burden and introduced free childcare services. So far, 350 persons had benefitted from incentives through which the government covered the travelling expenses of both parents when their sick children needed treatment abroad. He also referred to...
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Palumbo in court following criminal complaint by resident

February 1, 2016, 3:20 am
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Three Palumbo Shipyard representatives were arraigned in court this morning after Senglea residents complained they could not stand the incessant noise disturbing their sleep any longer. The arraignment followed a criminal complaint filed by Anna Spiteri, who is also the PRO of the Senglea Resident Association, regarding an incessant, low, rumbling noise heard on the night between last Thursday and Friday. Company director Joseph Calleja, Francesco Domenico Impollino as captain of the vessel Hamal and vessel inspector Saverio Velluci stand charged with disturbing the inhabitants' repose. Taking the witness stand, Ms Spiteri told Magistrate Aaron Bugeja that the incident was "the last straw" and that the particular noise was first heard last Monday. She believed the loud sound was emanating from a generator. "I lay on my pillow and the noise penetrated my mind," Ms Spiteri told the court. "At first I thought it was a car. But it wasn't. It was impossible to sleep." Ms Spiteri outlined the problems being faced by the residents especially throughout the past five years, including air pollution and the din caused by hammering and saws cutting through metal. "My daughter is about to...
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Driver escapes fight, hits four cars on way to station

January 31, 2016, 5:49 am
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A man who escaped from a fight in a Mitsubishi at 4am today hit four cars and drove on to the police station, the police said. The cars were parked in Triq Ghajn Damma, Xaghra. The police said the drivers of the parked cars were inside but no one was injured.
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University awaits its superhero...

January 31, 2016, 2:20 am
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If you have aspirations to become a rector, sit down before reading this piece because as Kurt Sansone discovers the post comes with a very long list of demands. A collection of qualities expected from the university’s next commander-in-chief could read like a leaf from a superhero movie called The Rector. He, or she, would have to prioritise research, respect tradition, ensure the University of Malta remains competitive, make it relevant to local communities, ensure a fair promotion system for academics, cut bureaucracy, confront the parking problem on campus, attract more foreign students, be a force for stability and inspire excellence. Moreover, the next rector would have to be a person of stature, inspire trust and ensure the institution’s independence. Now this is a very tall order indeed for someone expected to lead a university that has 11,500 students, is spread out over 195,000 square metres and is made up of 14 faculties, institutes and centres. The election for the next rector is expected to take place in March and given the composition of the University Council, the candidate backed by the government is likely to win as has been the case since 1987. This, however,...
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Michael Falzon's resignation 'sign of respect' to NAO - Muscat

February 1, 2016, 2:03 am
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Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has insisted Michael Falzon’s resignation was a sign of respect to the National Audit Office despite accusing it of vindictiveness. Asked this morning whether he agreed with Dr Falzon’s description of the NAO report into the Gaffarena scandal as “disgusting” (porkerija), the Prime Minister stuck to the same reply given to The Sunday Times of Malta. Skirting the question, he said Dr Falzon shouldered the ultimate responsibility by resigning his office and was defending himself. Interviewed on Xarabank last Friday, Dr Falzon went on a tirade against the NAO, accusing its chief investigating officer Keith Mercieca of having a political motivation. The Gaffarena scandal saw businessman Mark Gaffarena acquire €3.4 million in land and cash from the government for the expropriation of half a building in Valletta valued at some €900,000. The NAO report concluded there was collusion between officials at the Government Property Department, Dr Falzon and Mr Gaffarena. Dr Falzon has denied any wrongdoing, insisting he never got involved in the deal. The Auditor General has so far opted not to comment on the accusations levelled against his office.  
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Police union orders members not to work at prisons, escort prisoners

January 31, 2016, 1:01 pm
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The Malta Police Association this evening ordered its members not to report to work at the prisons or to escort prisoners. It said on its Facebook page, it was giving the directive for health reasons until the authorities provided it with all the necessary information and an adequate clarification. This morning, the MPA issued a statement in which it expressed concern and called for protection for officers escorting prisoners suffering flu, which has been identified as what was previously known as Swine Flu. It referred to a press conference a few days ago by Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela about three prisoners having been hospitalised in critical condition. The association said hospital staff were taking precautions when treating such patients. Police officers, it said were in close contact with prisoners and also needed to be protected. It said they should be given protective clothing and instructed on the best precautions.
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NAO report on Gaffarena scandal: The beginning of the end of Joseph Muscat - Simon Busuttil

January 31, 2016, 3:05 am
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The National Audit report on the Gaffarena scandal proved that this was the beginning of the end of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s government, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said this morning. Speaking in Zejtun, Dr Busuttil said the report showed that the Prime Minister’s movement’s loyalty was not to the country but to himself and the interests of the few. The National Audit Office investigation started after the Times of Malta last May exposed an expropriation scandal involving businessman Mark Gaffarena, who partly owned a building in Old Mint Street, Valletta. The NAO concluded that former Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon had colluded with officials of the Government Property Department and Mr Gaffarena in the expropriation of half the building. “The report is very strong. It is clear proof that this government is in a corruption crisis… that we have the most corrupt government in history…” Dr Busuttil said that while the report used the word collusion, meaning an agreement which led to someone getting something that did not belong to him. The word for this in Maltese was corruption, he said. “There is corruption here…. Joseph Muscat’s government is most corrupt...
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Swieqi stabbing incident motivated by political rivalry between two Libyan governments

January 31, 2016, 4:07 am
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Political rivalry between the two opposing Libyan governments of Tripoli and Tobruk was the reason behind yesterday's Swieqi stabbing incident, which sent a 25-year-old Libyan to hospital, the Times of Malta has learnt.  The incident happened at about 8.30am in a residence in Triq is-Sidra, Swieqi. A towel and a shoe belonging to the victim were found on the blood-stained pavement a short distance away from the scene of the crime. The victim was left in a critical condition but he has since improved and is no longer in danger. Meanwhile, two Libyans involved in this incident have been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to the charges brought against them before Magistrate Neville Camilleri. Zouhir Elfezqa, 31, who lives in Swieqi, was this morning arraigned under arrest and charged with attempted murder and inflicting grievous injuries to  Wadea Al Maghrgi. A second man,  21-year-old Mohammed Abdul Hafid Abukem, also of Swieqi, was separately charge, accused of attempting to inflict grievous injuries to  Mr Elfezqa, slightly injuring him, holding him against his will and carrying an unlicensed knife. While Mr Elfezqa did not request bail, the court turned down Mr...
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High pesticide levels in some fruit and vegetables making way to consumers

January 31, 2016, 10:00 pm
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Some of the fruit and vegetables making their way to consumers have had excessive pesticide content because of delays in the testing process, the head of the competition watchdog has admitted. The chairman of the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority, Marcel Pizzuto, told the Times of Malta that the more than 100 tests carried out on locally grown produce every year are not carried out in Malta. Yet, the authority could not halt the sale of any greens before results were obtained, often weeks after the initial sample was taken. “We take samples but we can’t stop farmers from selling their produce at that stage – we need proof. And if we do find that there is an excessive amount of pesticides, which we have done in the past, the produce would have already been sold and eaten by consumers,” Mr Pizzuto said. He said the authority often took the farmers to court but this was “too late”. Mr Pizzuto insisted the authority did not find an alarming amount of produce with excessive pesticide levels. However, the current system still exposed consumers to the possibility of consuming excessive levels of anti-pest chemicals. Between five and eight per cent of samples taken by...
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Alas, is something rotten in the State of Malta?

January 31, 2016, 7:47 am
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The plays of William Shakespeare are taught in schools and performed on stages in every corner of the world; they have been produced, adapted and remixed in every conceivable language, form and medium. But as the world prepares to mark 400 years from the anniversary of the great playwright’s death, local academics and theatre practitioners fear that when it comes to Shakespeare, something is rotten in the State of Malta. “I notice that while in many countries the general level of understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare seems to be improving, in Malta this is not always so,” Daniel Massa, a professor of English who has lectured on Shakespeare in Malta and abroad for more than three decades, said. Currently, children’s first encounter with Shakespeare tends to be in secondary school English classes. Internationally, however, experts continue to stress the need for the plays to be seen – as they were intended – and not read. “Reading and explication of text is definitely not enough,” Prof. Massa said. “There exist excellent videos and recordings of Shakespeare plays which ought to be used more in Maltese classrooms. I also don’t see many students at productions by local...
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PV farm instead of family park in Gozo

February 1, 2016, 11:57 am
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A substantial part of the former waste dump at il-Qortini, Xaghra, Gozo, has been transferred to Enemalta which willl be installing photovoltaic (PV) panels there, Environment Minister Leo Brincat said in reply to a parliamentary question. Gozo shadow minister Chris Said had asked why work on a family park planned on the site had been discontinued. He pointed out that the site was closed seven years ago.   Speaking later on the adjournment, Dr Said said the former government had been on its way to develop the family park. Mepa permits had been issued and the site was being rehabilitated and covered with soil. He said the PV farm would be an eyesore seen from practically everywhere in Gozo. 
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Delay in restoration works in Gozo leads to loss of funds

February 2, 2016, 2:46 am
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Gozo’s Citadel being restored.

At least 10 per cent of EU funds dedicated to the restoration of Gozo’s Citadel have been lost from the project. This was due to the government failing to complete the project and spend the funds on time, this newspaper has learnt. The project, planned in 2011 with a budget of €14.5 million, had to be completed by the end of last year in order to qualify for the full amount of EU funding. The EU was meant to fork out 85 per cent, or €11.6 million, of the project’s budget. However, by the end of last year the government had only managed to use up €10.5 million of this amount – signifying a loss of €1.1 million in EU funding. The project was originally scheduled to have been completed by June 2015. However, delays in starting, compounded with the discovery of archaeological remains during works, led to the completion being postponed several times. Although at an advanced stage, the works were still underway yesterday. The full cost of any restoration works that remain will now have to be forked out by the Maltese taxpayer. A spokesman for the ministry yesterday admitted that works on the Cittadella had still not been completed, although he said “most components” were. The ministry...
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Number of foreign workers exceeds population of Birkirkara, Malta's biggest town

February 1, 2016, 10:52 am
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27,425 foreigners are working in Malta - a figure which is way above the population of Malta's largest town - Birkirkara. Figures given in parliament today show that 19,087 citizens of the European union and 8,338 from other countries are working in Malta, according to the latest figures of the Employment and Training Corporation. The data was given by Education and Employment Minister Evarist Bartolo in reply to a question by Labour MP Etienne Grech. (Birkirkara's population is  23,000, according to the local council) 
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Vote-counting mistakes: Court rejects new PL request, PN court case on extra seats to continue

February 2, 2016, 1:54 am
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Updated - Court rejects new Pl request (See bottom) - The PN’s court case to be awarded extra parliamentary seats following a vote-counting mistake in the last general election will forge ahead, after a judge this morning turned down Labour’s request to suspend proceedings. Last Friday, PL lawyer and deputy leader Toni Abela had asked the Constitutional Court to halt proceedings pending the outcome of another Constitutional case, this time on which court should have the jurisdiction to look into the PN’s request. The latter case had been instituted by the PL. In its decree the First Hall of the Civil Court (Constitutional Jurisdiction) presided by Madam Justice Lorraine Schembri Orlando today ruled that by seeking the suspension of proceedings pending the other constitutional case the PL had placed “the cart before the horse”. It noted how such request were only upheld in exceptional cases. Meanwhile Dr Abela, today filed an application challenging a decree issued last Friday whereby the court had rejected Labour’s request to be given more time to summon one more witness – Anthony Gellel a part-time employee of the Electoral Commission. The witness had not been found at home...
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Court throws out Vince Farrugia's 'rat' workers objection

February 1, 2016, 5:00 am
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The court has thrown out a libel case filed by former GRTU director Vince Farrugia regarding a banner published in l-Orizzont stating he had labelled precarious workers as "rats". Mr Farrugia felt that the banner, which was published 135 times in 2012, was defamatory and insulting. He said he had never used those words. But according to evidence presented in court, Mr Farrugia had made the declaration during a 2011 meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development. During the meeting, an argument erupted between Mr Farrugia and then General Workers Union general secretary Tony Zarb regarding precarious workers. Mr Zarb said the ETC should be examining the employability of workers in precarious jobs, whereupon Mr Farrugia objected vehemently to the comment and referred to such workers who were receiving protection from the GWU as "rats". This was was confirmed by then MCESD chairman Sonny Portelli and secretary Sylvia Gauci. The court noted that Mr Farrugia himself had admitted to saying the phrase, but denied the fact that he was referring to workers who imported merchandise from abroad. However, his assertion was not corroborated by any other witness. Magistrate...
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Liam defies the odds and now walks for 20 minutes

February 1, 2016, 4:19 am
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A seven-year-old boy who was destined to live in a vegetative state as a new-born continues to defy the odds and is walking unaided following therapy abroad. Liam Cocker is now doing so much walking that he is getting muscle soreness, his mother Rachel told this newspaper following a trip to the UK funded by several people who read an appeal in this newspaper last year. The boy was flown to Scotland for a two-week intensive physical programme and while he continues the therapy in Malta, he will be flown to the UK to “reignite the flame”. “When we left for the UK, Liam would crawl towards the furniture and help himself onto his feet, but he would not be able to make more than three steps, aided. “Now he can walk unaided for at least 20 minutes and, although he has to be supervised, he is more confident,” his mother said as Liam got up and ran for the door on hearing the doorbell. Since he started walking, Liam has become fascinated with doors as he knows they lead to a world he can explore now that he can get from one place to another faster. His right arm is not as weak as it was either, she says as she watches a video shot during a mathematics class at the San Miguel Primary...
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Konrad Mizzi touted as Labour deputy leader

February 1, 2016, 9:44 pm
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Energy and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Konrad Mizzi is likely to replace Toni Abela as Labour Party deputy leader as delegates are asked to ditch rules preventing MPs from being appointed to the post. Sources close to the party yesterday said the Energy and Health Minister will put his name in the hat if delegates on Friday approve changes to the statute proposed by Labour leader Joseph Muscat. They pointed towards a tweet sent out by Dr Mizzi on Saturday in which he circulated a photo of himself posing with veteran Labour delegate Ġuża Cassar in Gozo. “To party insiders the tweet sent out on the same day that Dr Abela’s nomination to the European Court of Auditors was made public signalled that Konrad had started campaigning in Gozo where Ġuża Cassar’s support is indispensable,” one source said. It is an open secret that Dr Mizzi enjoys Dr Muscat’s support, the sources said. “Konrad Mizzi will be expected to bring managerial oomph into the party’s administration.”  Dr Mizzi contested the general election for the first time in 2013 and is the brains behind Labour’s energy policy. He was elected on the fourth district, obtaining just over 1,000 votes and coming in second behind the party leader. Attempts to contact...
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Rejection of parole for terminally ill prisoner came after consultants’ advice

February 2, 2016, 12:41 am
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The decision not to grant parole to terminally ill prisoner Godfrey Ellul came after recommendations from consultants at Mater Dei, a spokesman for the Parole Board said. “The Board, in terms of Article 11 of Chapter 516, arrived at its decision of January 13, in the light of the professional advice given by the consultants at Mater Dei Hospital for the serious disease indicated by inmate,” the spokesman said. Mr Ellul’s sister Betta Ellul, 60, said her 67-year-old brother’s surgeon, Walter Busuttil, had sent an e-mail to the board confirming that Mr Ellul was suffering from terminal lung cancer, among other illnesses. Ms Ellul was stunned to learn her brother had not been granted parole in light of the surgeon’s prognosis. In the e-mail, seen by this newspaper, the surgeon judged Mr Ellul’s long-term prognosis to be “poor” and said he was suffering from a heart disease that could also be life-threatening. Mr Busuttil, a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Mater Dei Hospital, had told Ms Ellul that he had sent his prognosis to the parole board. No other information was available on who the other consultants appointed by the board were and what they recommended. Mr Ellul, a...
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